New Delhi: India’s 2025 monsoon season has unleashed widespread havoc across the country, with intense rainfall, flooding, landslides, and dam releases impacting at least ten states. The severity of the situation has highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure and the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness.
Himachal Pradesh, already weakened by earlier monsoon damage, suffered further devastation. Heavy rains lashed several areas, including Chamba, prompting red alerts for much of the state. Schools in Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Solan districts were closed as a precaution. While the Beas River remained below the danger mark, three rain-related fatalities were reported, bringing the state’s monsoon death toll to twenty. A multi-storey building collapsed in Shimlas Bhattakuffar area, although thankfully, no casualties were reported.
Uttarakhand also experienced catastrophic events. A cloudburst in Uttarkashi resulted in deadly landslides, leaving nine construction workers missing. Rescue operations are underway. Similarly, deadly landslides and torrential rain are causing significant road blockages and traffic disruptions in Rudraprayag.
In the south, Tamil Nadu’s Mullaperiyar Dam opened its spillway shutters due to high water levels, a measure followed by the Salal Dam in Jammu and Kashmir and the Baglihar Dam in Ramban amid rising Chenab River levels. The Northern Plains also experienced intense rainfall. Delhi saw brief showers accompanied by strong winds and waterlogging, a situation replicated in several towns across Uttar Pradesh. Aligarh and Moradabad experienced severe waterlogging, disrupting traffic and causing significant inconvenience to residents.
Rajasthan also experienced the consequences of the intense rainfall. In Sirohi, a driver’s perilous ordeal on a flooded road, captured on camera and shared widely on social media, became a stark illustration of the dangerous conditions. This incident served as a potent reminder of the life-threatening risks during the monsoon season. The scale of the disaster emphasises the importance of effective disaster management strategies and the need for continued monitoring of weather patterns to mitigate the risks associated with this crucial agricultural period in India.